TWENTY-EIGHT YEAR VETERAN TO HEAD THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

TWENTY-EIGHT YEAR VETERAN TO HEAD THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

Chief Scout Executive Roy L. Williams

IRVING, Texas (April 25, 2000)—Roy L. Williams of Mesa, Arizona, has been named to head the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), effective June 1, 2000.

As Chief Scout Executive, Williams will be responsible for providing staff leadership and direction to more than 3,500 Scouting professionals throughout the 50 states, its territories, protectorates, and the U.S. citizens around the world. Williams will assume leadership of the 6.2 million-member organization when current Chief Scout Executive Jere B. Ratcliffe retires on June 1.

Williams' appointment was announced by BSA President Edward E. Whitacre Jr., who served as chairman of the national selection committee.

"Roy brings to the Office of the Chief Scout Executive Scouting experience and the proven leadership necessary to build on our past successes and ensure that the youth and families we serve will continue to receive the best possible programming," said Whitacre.

Strong Community Involvement

Williams has held a wide range of positions during his 28 years of professional service to Scouting. He started his career with the BSA in 1972 as a district executive with the Longhorn Council in Fort Worth, Texas. He served as Scout executive of the Jayhawk Area Council in Topeka, Kansas. He also served as director of the Boy Scout Division at the National Council before being named Scout executive of the Narragansett Council in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1990. Most recently, Williams was regional director for the Western Region of the BSA, headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.

Williams has been active in a number of business, church, civic, and fraternal organizations, including service as PTA president and chairman of his church's pastor parish committee. He, and his wife, Barbara, have two children.

Williams is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where he received a bachelor's degree in business administration.